Today I’m going to talk about something that has bothered me for awhile…every since I seriously started thinking about publishing my books. Maybe I should rephrase that…every since I started thinking about TRYING to get published because that is another story in and of itself.

When I first started writing I generally just thought that certain people enjoyed writing and were talented at it and others were not. Some people were gifted at weaving a story and pulling people into it and others were not. How wrong I was!

Over the past couple of years I’ve learned a lot about the WORK of writing. Everything that goes into it. Sure, I knew you would have grammar to contend with, proper sentence structure. That didn’t bother me since I had done fairly well with that in school. I had learned how to write a ‘proper’ paragraph, ‘proper’ short story.

But all that I have learned in the past couple of years has been a whole different ball game. I really don’t like the way it is played at times either! Just to be pretty blunt. I think in some ways it throws out the writer’s gifts of weaving a story and pulling the reader in. Frankly, some of the great, classic authors would have never been published today because they did not follow all the rules. I find that very sad!

Yes, I know a publishing house, especially a big one has to be sure a book will sell and that they will make money on it. Unfortunately that last part is the biggest deal. It goes back to the age-old story…money and success is THE most important thing, not what is behind it, not the values or lack thereof.

So, for all those out there that are pulling out their hair, doing rewrites, polishing, starting over and generally jumping through hoops to meet all the ‘rules’…don’t forget why you started to write in the first place. If God has given you this talent, don’t just write to get published or for the big publishing houses. If you have a story to tell, someone at some point will want to hear it. Just as you may keep a classic suit or dress because the fads will change, I think it’s the same with writing. That was a huge surprise to me. Some of the books I love the most don’t follow all the ‘rules’. And yes, some of those have even been best-sellers!

Dedicated to those that are still ‘plugging away’!

My goal is to keep this a little more updated! I so enjoy the release I have each time I blog here because I talk about what’s on my heart or in my mind at the time. Even though I may ramble a bit, you all listen and sometimes respond. Believe me, my family appreciates it because then they have the edited version without so much emotion! LOL

Anyway, I was just trying to think of a title for this post…and then I realized that I usually do better to write my post and then title it and put it into a category. Because usually, what I end up writing about is very different than what I started writing about. I guess that is more of the SOTP writing that I’m most comfortable with. Which, when I think about it is VERY different than the person that I am.

I am definitely an ‘A’ personality. Everything is planned, done ahead of time and any kind of interruption, disaster, etc. puts me over the edge in my inflexible attitude toward life. Enter God, His word and His plan for my life. Now you get the picture! As I get older, I’m finally starting to understand this a little better, but I’ve had a few tough years learning what I need to to be the person God wants me to be. My two youngest sing ‘I Am a Promise’. If you know the song, one of the verses is “I can be anything God wants me to be.” Now, this song is speaking of a child’s potential which of course is limitless with God’s guidance. But in raising children, the emphasis should be more on what God wants them to be. We all have potential, but it always should be what God has in mind for us because He knows us best and He knows the desires of our heart.

So, this has been hard for me. The person that plans everything, tries never to procrastinate, wants a well-ordered life. God has taught me many lessons on learning to ‘go-with-the-flow’, change of plans at the last minute, learning to follow rather than lead. I think my writing has helped a lot with this…the books and this blog. I sit down, pray for whatever is on my heart and then I let the Lord lead.

After all, He ALWAYS listens and ALWAYS responds.

Yes, I’m back! As soon as I wrote that title above, I thought of that Sarah McLachlan song that starts out the same way. So now I have that running through my head! But, I do love the song, so that is not a problem.

Well, it has been a while since I posted. But, I had a great week end in Girard, Kansas! I had attended a writer’s conference there over the week end and I was rather busy the couple of weeks before that getting ready and getting my family ready for me to leave! It was only a couple of days, but it is a big change for everyone. But they all did fantastic and my second oldest kept the house in order. She fit this in among baby sitting and taking her ACT test the Saturday I was gone.

Anyway, back to the writer’s conference, which is what this post is about. Even though I started writing my first full length novel about eight years ago, I didn’t really get serious about writing until almost two years ago. It will be two years in July. Now, that I’ve finished the fourth book in the series, I thought it was time to really start concentrating on getting published. But, before that I really need to learn more about the writing industry and the business side of it. The conference was great for that. Deborah Raney, an author with over ten titles published, was the main speaker. Her workshops were terrific and I learned so much in those two days. She was also a real encouragement as were the other writers attending the conference. Everyone there was so good! I had entered a short story contest for nonfiction, and when I heard what was being written by others there, well, needless to say I pretty much gave up on winning anything! But I did win second place for my short story! I can’t tell you how excited I am! It really meant a lot to me!

I have also entered two of my books in contests and I’m excited to hear back about that. This writing business is very exciting for me. I already have another story in my head, pounding to get out, but I keep telling myself that I need to start doing my rewrites on the other four first. But, after this week end and Deborah Raney’s great workshop on rewriting, that doesn’t seem so bad. Actually, it is pretty exciting to think about correcting all those mistakes and layering in more on my characters. So, good bye for now…I have to go write!!!

I don’t talk much about my writing. I guess when you haven’t been published and you’re just starting the process…you feel a little awkward about telling people that you’re a writer. Atleast that is the way it has been for me.

I started writing my first women’s fiction almost ten years ago. I wrote almost continually for about two weeks. Yes, my four children did survive and my husband was driving for JB Hunt at the time. Anyway…I wrote until I was about half way done on a 120,000 word manuscript and then I set it aside. But, the story that I had dreamed about just kept popping back into my head and it was there…almost as real as my own family. (For those of you that don’t write, that may sound a little strange.) Anyway, a little over a year and a half ago, I started to really think about writing again and finishing that story. I had typed the first part of it, so I put it into our computer, doing some rewriting because I wanted it to be from a Christian, Inspirational view instead.

This past Saturday, I finished the fourth book in the series that I’ve had in my head all these years. I now need to start the process of rewriting each one and cleaning them up. I am starting to get excited about that. But, I had to get over the sadness that I felt when I finished writing. It was like I was leaving a dear family behind. Almost a sense of mourning.

Ten years ago I was not ready to pursue publishing. My children were all under the age of eleven. Now, I feel as though I have a little more freedom and I am more ready, more assured. I pray that I am able to be published, but I know it is going to be a long process. I guess the fact that I’m willing to share this with other people says a lot!!

So far, other than a fifth book that will be historical, I have no other stories in my head at this time. I don’t think I will write the fifth book unless the other four are published, but that could change! At this time I don’t really even want any other stories, but I know if I think about it…they will be there. Even as a child, I was constantly writing poems and short stories, illustrating them too.

So, there’s a glimpse of a little more of me. What do you feel passionate about? What dream do you have, or what do you enjoy that would be a wonderful way to help with your family’s income?